Nigeria decides to keep its international airports closed for the next four weeks as a precaution

NIGERIA'S international airports are to remain closed for another four weeks at least after the federal government decided to extend the ban on flights into and out of the country for another four weeks.

On March 23, the federal government decided to close all of Nigeria's international airports, only allowing in special emergency flights of cargo deliveries. Affected are the Murtala International Airport in Lagos, the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, the Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano and the Port Harcourt and Enugu airports.

In Wednesday, the government reviewed the closures in the light of the partial lifting of some of the restrictions imposed following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and decided not to open the country's airspace. Boss Mustapha, the secretary to the government of the federation, said the government decided to extend the flight ban after due consultation.

Mr Boss added: “We have assessed the situation in the aviation industry and have come to the conclusion that given the facts available to us and based on the advice of experts, the ban on all flights will be extended for an additional four weeks."

Nigeria currently has 3,526 coronavirus cases of which there have been 107 deaths, with Lagos, Kano and Borno being the most affected states along with the Federal Capital Territory. On Monday, the government lifted its total lockdown in the FCT and Lagos and Ogun states partially but numerous other restrictions still remain in place.